Costume jewelry novelty for attachment to bathing garments or the like



July 22, 1969 J. 5. CASS 3,456,457

COSTUME JEWELRY NOVELTY FOR ATTACHMENT TO BATHING GARMENTS OR THE LIKE Filed Oct. 15, 1965 F 9 1 INVENTCR.

JULES S. CASS ATTO R NEY.

United States Patent US. Cl. 632 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A novelty jewelry item consists of a surfaceable object suspended from the back of a bathing suit. When towed by a swimmer, the object rides on the surface or assumes a given position in the water.

This invention relates to a type of novelty costume jewelery adapted to be worn by a swimmer on a bathing garment, and more specifically to novelty costume jewelry attachable to the rear of shoulder straps of a bathing garment and adapted to be towed by the wearer at or near the surface of the water.

In general, the novelty jewelry comprises an object, of any material, such as an animal, plant, imaginary figure, or streamers, spinners, jointed-animate figures, spoons, etc., attached by means of a swivel and a chain, a cord, or other suspending medium, to the back of a bathing garment of the type worn by both girls and boys or women. The object may be of the fish-lure type in that it is adapted to ride on the surface, or to assume a given position in the water when towed by a swimmer. The object may be floatable, because of its own buoyant qualities, or it may be, or in movement become, surfaceable because of fins or other buoyant devices attached thereto.

It is a primary object of this invention to provide an article of costume jewelry of the novelty type.

Another object of this invention is to provide an article of costume jewelry of the novelty type attachable to the back of a bathing garment, and adapted to be towed by the bather at or near the surface of the water.

For further objects and for a better understanding of the invention, reference should now be made to the following detailed specification and to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURES l and 1A show one embodiment of the invention; and

FIGURE 2 is a modified form of the invention using a non-buoyant object, surfaceable on motion.

The costume jewelry shown in FIGURES l and 1A includes a buoyant ornamental object 10 in the form of a mouse. Obviously, the object 10 may take other forms such as a bird, human body, flower, or other form such as an amusing appearing spider or jellyfish, etc. The object 10 is connected by means of a chain 12 and a swivel 14 to the center of a chain 16. One end of the chain 16 is connected by means of a fastening device 18 to the shoulder strap portion 20 of a bathing garment, while the other end of the chain 16 is connected by means of a fastening device 22 to the other shoulder strap 24 of the bathing garment.

When the swimmer wearing the novelty jewelry on the costume is out of the water, the animal 10, suspended from the chain, depends in an attractive or amusing fashion on the back of the bathing garment. However, when the swimmer enters the water, the animal 10 floats on the surface of the water, and when the swimmer propels through the water, the object follows on the surface in a fashion determined by its design.

The embodiment of FIGURE 2 is similar to that of FIGURES 1 and 1A, with the exception that a non-floatable ornamental object 26 is connected by means of the chain 12 and swivel 14 to the chain 16. Normally the object 26, in this case having the appearance of a fish, will not float because it is not buoyant in the water. However, the object is provided with fins 28 having a hydrofoil-type shape and angled with respect to the surface of the water in such manner that when the swimmer propels through the water, the fins 28 carry the object 26 to the surface of the water.

Obviously, many variations and adaptations of this novelty costume jewelry will be apparent to persons skilled in the art. For example, the objects may be made of many materials having various properties. It may be brightly colored or it may be luminescent, phosphorescent or light reflective, so that it presents an attractive appearance at night or when illuminated. Also, the object might be provided with tubular passageways so that when passing through the water, the water may be propelled jetstream fashion through the passageways and exhausted above the surface of the water to create a unique appearance. The objectmay be jointed, or it may be designed to undulate, wriggle, spin, twist, or wobble. In addition, while clasps 18 and 22 are illustrated, any means for attaching the jewelry object to the bathing garment is, of course, satisfactory. For example, the chain may be pinned to either side of the bathing suit. Moreover, the means for attaching the animal or fish object to the bathing garment need not take the form of a chain, but may be in the form of wires or other attractive suspension devices which will serve the same towing function.

While not shown clearly in the drawing, the objects 10 is an embodiment as reduced to practice is readily detachable from the chain 12 by means of simple safetypin type clasp. Any conventional jewelry type clasp is permissible.

Since such modifications are readily available, it is intended that the invention be limited only by the following claims as interpreted in the light of the prior art.

What is claimed is:

1. An article of costume jewelry, the combination comprising:

an ornament in the form of a water surfaceable object;

tow means connected to said object; and

means for attaching said tow means to the back of a bathing garment worn by a swimmer, whereby said surfaceable object is towed at or near the surface of the water when the swimmer propels through the water.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said object is buoyant.

3. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said object is non-buoyant, and means on said object for causing said object to surface when propelled through the water.

4. The invention as defined in claim 3 wherein said means on said object are fins having hydrofoil properties.

5. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for attaching said tow means comprises an elongated flexible suspension means connected to the rear of said bathing garment, said tow means being connected at approximately the center of said suspension means.

6. The invention as defined in claim 5 wherein said tow means includes a swivel.

7. The invention as defined in claim 6 wherein said suspension means is a metallic chain.

8. The invention as defined in claim 7 wherein said means for attaching said tow means comprises an elongated suspension means having a clasp at each end, said clasps being connectable between two shoulder straps at the rear of said bathing garment.

9. The invention as defined in claim 8 wherein said object is non-buoyant, and means on said object for causwater.

3 ing said object to surface when, propelledthrough the 1,993,798

2,443,474 10. The invention as defined in claim 9 wherein said 3,025,628 means are. fins having hydrofoil properties. 3,164,772 3,257,751

Knapp. Christopher et a1. FlOOd 43-32 X 10 Boehm 43-32 X ROBERT PESNOCK, Primary Examiner I H. DINITZ, Assistant Examiner Us, 01. X.R. 

